Calcutta, 1886.
Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.
When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.
But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.
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Summary
From: Carol Pennington
Book Title: A Tapestry of Light
Book Author: Kimberly Duffy
What do you like about this book:
This book actually has a dual setting. The first part of the book is set near Calcutta, India, in the late 1800s. The story follows an Anglo Indian girl, Ottilie Russell, and her family. Unfortunately, Ottilie has suffered more than her share of death. She lost her English father and two siblings to cholera and recently suffered the loss of her Anglo Indian mother as a result of a horse accident. Left to provide for her Indian grandmother and her brother, Thaddeus, Ottilie follows in her mother’s footsteps and offers her services in beetle wing embroidery. Still, the family struggles to meet their basic needs. Then a visitor from England arrives and huge changes follow.
I really enjoyed reading this story. The dual setting was great because I find both India and England fascinating. I enjoyed learning about the Anglo Indian people and their struggles during this time period. The beetle wing embroidery so fascinated me that I did more research on my own. What a wonderful art! It is so beautiful.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Although Ottilie and her family go through some very hard times that are heart rending to read, it is so worth it. It is a totally clean book too, so I would have no hesitation in recommending it for all ages.